Unsp occipital condyle fracture, subs for fx w delay heal

This code signifies a fracture of the occipital condyle, the bony prominences at the base of the skull that articulate with the first cervical vertebra, where the specific type of fracture is not documented. The "G" seventh character indicates that the patient is receiving active treatment for the fracture, but the healing process is taking longer than expected.

Apply this code when documentation confirms an occipital condyle fracture without further specification of its type, and the patient is in the delayed healing phase of treatment. This typically applies to follow-up encounters where the physician is managing the ongoing care of the fracture due to slow or incomplete union. Supporting documentation would include physician notes detailing the delayed healing and the ongoing management plan.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "delayed healing" for the seventh character "G" to be appropriate.
• Distinguish from nonunion (seventh character "K") or malunion (seventh character "P"), which represent different healing complications.
• Always sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when the delayed healing of the fracture is the focus of the encounter.